Vervaeke discusses the ancient Greek philosophers Pythagoras and Socrates, and their contributions to the Axial Age, a pivotal period in human history characterized by a shift towards rational self-awareness and moral progress. Pythagoras explored patterns in the world through reason and mathematics, while Socrates emphasized self-knowledge, questioning commonly held beliefs, and aligning one’s pursuits with truth and wisdom. Their ideas laid the foundation for the Western philosophical tradition.
